Post-Completion OPT:
Any portion of OPT used after the student’s Program End
Date. It must be full-time. 24-month (STEM) OPT Extension: For students who majored in designated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degrees approved by DHS. This type of OPT is a 24-month extension of OPT.
What is a stem OPT?
The STEM OPT extension is
a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to an F-1 student’s program of study in an approved STEM field
. … Students may not apply for STEM OPT extensions during the 60-day grace period following an initial period of regular post-completion OPT.
What is OPT vs STEM OPT?
Post-Completion OPT:
Any portion of OPT used after the student’s Program End
Date. It must be full-time. 24-month (STEM) OPT Extension: For students who majored in designated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degrees approved by DHS. This type of OPT is a 24-month extension of OPT.
What is STEM OPT eligibility?
Eligibility Criteria for the 24-month OPT extension
File the STEM OPT application with USCIS during the final 90 days of your post-completion OPT authorization period; and. Have
earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) major within the last 10 years
…
Who can get stem OPT?
Have earned either
a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a school
that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency and is also certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) when the candidate is submitting his STEM OPT extension application.
Does STEM OPT get rejected?
Normally, if your OPT/STEM OPT Extension is rejected, you must file a completely new application withUSCIS. If the application is rejected after your filing deadline (the end of the 60-day grace period for OPT; end of the OPT EAD for STEM OPT)
refiling would normally be denied
.
Can you get OPT without a job?
Do I need a job to apply for OPT?
No, a job offer is not required to apply for OPT
. However, be aware that during your 12-month OPT period, you are only allowed a cumulative total of 90 days of unemployment (see more information below in the Employment section).
Can I hire someone on OPT?
Hiring
F-1
Students. As soon as an F-1 student completes a degree program, he or she is eligible to apply for 12 months of work authorization called Optional Practical Training (OPT). … This means that the position for which you hire the student must be related to the student’s major.
Is OPT only for stem?
The
STEM OPT
extension is
only
available to certain F-1 students who receive a qualifying degree in a
STEM
field at the bachelor’s level or higher from an accredited, SEVP-certified school. Students must be in their initial period of regular post-completion
OPT
to apply for the extension.
Does stem OPT have to be paid?
Employment during
STEM OPT must be paid as
outlined on the I-983 Training Plan. Unpaid internships, volunteering, community service work, and unpaid research are not valid employment types on STEM OPT.
How long can I stay in US after STEM OPT expires?
When you have completed your STEM OPT, you are permitted to remain in the United States for
up to sixty calendar days from the
end date of your STEM OPT period in order to prepare for departure. You are not permitted to continue employment during this period (unless authorized under the H-1 cap-gap benefit; see below).
Can I work without STEM OPT receipt?
If your STEM OPT is not approved within 180 days of your OPT expiration date,
you must stop working
. … If you have not received your I-797 that indicates your STEM OPT is pending: F-1 regulations do not require a USCIS receipt nor that the case be in pending status to continue working.
Is MBA a STEM degree?
Is MBA a STEM degree?
MBA is not a STEM degree per se
. However, a few MBA programs are STEM-designated owing to the focus of the MBA in business analytics, decision theory, finance, economics, information technology, law, marketing, management, statistics, and strategy.
Is Psychology a STEM OPT?
Psychology training programs and organizations have advocated for adding psychology to the list of ICE STEM fields for the last several years. … It was identified as a priority at the American Psychological Association’s 2010 Science Leadership Conference.
Can you work remotely on STEM OPT?
According to the SEVP guidance, “Students currently participating in OPT, including STEM OPT,
may work remotely if their employer has an office outside of the United States
or the employer can assess student engagement using electronic means.
Can I work as a contractor on STEM OPT?
The following types of employment are authorized while on OPT and STEM OPT: … Employment as an independent contractor (1099 employment as opposed to being on the payroll)
Employment through an agency or consulting firm
(the employment agency must be enrolled in E-Verify for STEM OPT)
